Display device

ABSTRACT

Back cabinet ( 7 ) has space ( 7   a ) which can accommodate backlight unit ( 4 ) and a circuit board therein, a backlight supporter which supports backlight unit ( 4 ) is provided on an inner wall surface forming space ( 7   a ), liquid crystal display panel ( 3 ) is disposed in an opening of space ( 7   a ) of back cabinet ( 7 ), and panel driving circuit board ( 22 ) for electrically connecting liquid crystal display panel ( 3 ) to a signal processing circuit board is exposed to outside from a side wall of back cabinet ( 7 ).

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of International Application No.PCT/JP2011/005332, filed on Sep. 22, 2011, which in turn claims thebenefit of Japanese Application No. 2010-216445, filed on Sep. 28, 2010,the disclosures of which Applications are incorporated by referenceherein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The instant application relates to a flat display device such as aliquid crystal display device used for a television receiver or amonitor device.

BACKGROUND

A liquid crystal display device is a flat display device, and demandsthereof have increased for general homes and business use.

Generally, the liquid crystal display device includes a display modulewhich is configured by disposing a backlight unit which is a surfacelight source on a back surface side of a flat liquid crystal displaypanel, and the display module is accommodated inside a thin casingincluding a front cabinet and a back cabinet (refer to PTL 1)

In addition, the liquid crystal display device is produced as follows bya panel manufacturer and a finished product manufacturer.

The panel manufacturer manufactures liquid crystal display panels whichare supplied to the finished product manufacturer such as a televisionmanufacturer.

The finished product manufacturer combines a backlight unit which is asurface light source with the liquid crystal display panel, therebymanufacturing a display module. In addition, the display module isaccommodated in a thin casing including a front cabinet and a backcabinet along with a driving circuit board of the liquid crystal displaypanel.

In this way, the liquid crystal display device is produced.

In addition, a finished product manufacturer builds a factory forassembling products at an area in which liquid crystal display deviceare sold or an area close to the area, and finished products havingdesigns and functions corresponding to the sales area are assembled andsold.

Along with the increase in demand for liquid crystal display devices inthe whole world, there are requests for reduction in the number ofassembling steps when a finished product is assembled and for ease ofassembly, and there is a request for simplicity of a packaging method ina case of transporting display modules or the like to a factory forperforming assembly.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2009-139426

SUMMARY

According to the instant application, a display device includes a casinghaving a back cabinet; a flat display panel installed in the casing; abacklight unit disposed on a back side of the flat display panel; acircuit board forming a driving circuit for displaying an image on theflat display panel; and a wire member electrically connecting thecircuit board to the flat display panel, wherein the back cabinet has aspace which can accommodate the backlight unit and the circuit boardtherein, and a backlight supporter which supports the backlight unit onan inner wall surface forming the space, and wherein the flat displaypanel is disposed in an opening of the space of the back cabinet, and aconnector between the flat display panel and the wire member is exposedto the outside from a side wall of the back cabinet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a liquid crystal display device which is adisplay device according to an embodiment of the instant application.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the liquid crystal display deviceillustrating a state where the stand is detached.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a circuit block of the entireconfiguration of the liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the liquid crystal display device from which aback cabinet is removed.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal display devicetaken along line 5-5 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion B of the liquid crystal displaydevice in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid crystal displaydevice.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a back cabinet on an inner wall surfaceside of the liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a display module of the liquidcrystal display device.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of main parts of the liquidcrystal display device.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a display device according to an embodiment of the instantapplication will be described with reference to the drawings byexemplifying a liquid crystal display device.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a liquid crystal display device which is adisplay device according to an embodiment of the instant application;FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the liquid crystal display deviceillustrating a state where the stand is detached; FIG. 3 is a blockdiagram illustrating a circuit block of the entire configuration of theliquid crystal display device; FIG. 4 is a plan view of the liquidcrystal display device from which a back cabinet is removed; FIG. 5 is across-sectional view of the liquid crystal display device taken alongline 5-5 in FIG. 2; FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion B of theliquid crystal display device in FIG. 5; and FIG. 7 is an explodedperspective view of the liquid crystal display device.

First, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the liquid crystal displaydevice includes display device main body 1, and stand 2 which holdsdisplay device main body 1 in a standing state. Display device main body1 is configured by accommodating a display module having liquid crystaldisplay panel 3 which is a flat display panel and backlight unit 4(illustrated in FIG. 5) in casing 5 formed of a resin molded product. Inaddition, casing 5 includes front cabinet 6 which is provided withopening 6 a so as to correspond to an image display region of liquidcrystal display panel 3, and back cabinet 7 combined with front cabinet6. In addition, the reference numeral 6 b indicates a speaker grill foremitting the sound of a speaker to outside.

In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a schematic configurationof the entire liquid crystal display device includes a signal processingcircuit block 8 which has a driving circuit displaying an image onliquid crystal display panel 3 and a lighting control circuitcontrolling lighting of the backlight unit 4, power supply block 9 whichsupplies power to liquid crystal display panel 3, backlight unit 4, andsignal processing circuit block 8, tuner 10 which receives televisionbroadcasting and supplies a received signal to the signal processingcircuit block 8, and speaker 11 which outputs sound. Signal processingcircuit block 8 and power supply block 9 respectively have componentsforming circuits mounted on circuit boards. Further, a circuit boardwhich has signal processing circuit block 8, power supply block 9, tuner10, and the like mounted thereon is installed so as to be disposed in aspace between a back face of backlight unit 4 and back cabinet 7.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 4, signal processing circuit block 8is equipped with external signal input terminals 12 used to input avideo signal from an external device such as a DVD player to the liquidcrystal display device. Further, a speaker is not illustrated in FIG. 3.

Here, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, back cabinet 7 has a space 7 a inwhich the display module including liquid crystal display panel 3 andbacklight unit 4, and the circuit board can be accommodated. Further, aninner bottom surface forming space 7 a is provided with backlightsupporters 7 b and 7 c supporting backlight unit 4. Of backlightsupporters 7 b and 7 c, frame 4 a of backlight unit 4 is installed atbacklight supporter 7 b using screw 13.

Further, panel supporter 7 d which is a resin molded product thatsupports an outer circumference of liquid crystal display panel 3 andholds panel supporting member 14 is provided in the circumference of theinner bottom surface of back cabinet 7. In addition, the outercircumference of liquid crystal display panel 3 is supported by panelsupporting member 14. The outer circumference of liquid crystal displaypanel 3 is pressed against panel supporting member 14 by frame 15 whichis made of metal and has a cross-sectional shape of a substantially Lshape. By this pressing, liquid crystal display panel 3 is accommodatedand disposed in the opening circumference of space 7 a of back cabinet7. In addition, the reference numeral 3 a indicates a polarization filmattached to a display surface of liquid crystal display panel 3.

Here, liquid crystal display panel 3 disposed in the opening of space 7a of back cabinet 7 is electrically connected to the circuit boardcorresponding to signal processing circuit block 8 disposed on the backside of backlight unit 4 via a flexible wire board corresponding to awire member which is disposed along the outer circumference of backlightunit 4. A detailed structure thereof will be described later.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 6, outer circumferential front end 7e of back cabinet 7 is fitted to fitting piece 6 c provided on the innercircumferential wall surface of front cabinet 6. Further, front cabinet6 is installed in back cabinet 7 using screws from the front cabinet 6side, and thereby the circuit board having the display module and thedriving circuits thereon is accommodated in the casing. FIG. 8 is aperspective view of the back cabinet of the inner wall surface side ofthe liquid crystal display device, and front cabinet 6 is installed atbosses 7 f provided in the outer circumference of back cabinet 7 usingscrews.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the display module of theliquid crystal display device. As illustrated in FIG. 9, backlight unit4 illuminates liquid crystal display panel 3 from the back side.Backlight unit 4 includes a plurality of linear light sources 16arranged in parallel to liquid crystal display panel 3 in frame 4 a anddiffusion plate 17 covering frame 4 a.

Optical sheet 18 such as a prism sheet which diffuses or collects lightpassing through diffusion plate 17 is laminated on diffusion plate 17.

Reflection sheet 19 which is formed of a metal foil and reflects lightemitted from linear light sources 16 toward diffusion plate 17 isdisposed on the inner bottom surface of frame 4 a so as to entirelycover the inner bottom surface. In addition, a pair of supportingmembers 20 which are spaced apart from each other in the extendingdirection of the linear light sources 16 and hold linear light sources16 are disposed. Here, as linear light sources 16, tubular cold cathodefluorescent lamps (CCFLs) are used and are arranged in parallel to eachother. In addition, both ends of linear light sources 16 are covered bysupporting members 20. Further, frame 4 a is made of metal, such as ironor aluminum, or resin. Frame 4 a has a box shape which is open in onedirection, and has a bottom wall forming a bottom surface parallel tothe arranged surface of linear light sources 16 and a side wall risingfrom the circumference of the bottom wall. Furthermore, a plurality ofdiffusion plate supporting members 21 supporting diffusion plate 17 aredisposed on the inner bottom surface of frame 4 a.

Diffusion plate 17 is disposed between linear light sources 16 andliquid crystal display panel 3. Diffusion plate 17 makes light which isincident from an incidence surface of linear light sources 16 sidediffused so as to be emitted from an exit surface of the liquid crystaldisplay panel 3 side, and is formed through injecting molding of atransparent resin such as polystyrene or polycarbonate.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 9, diffusion plate 17 is disposedopposite to reflection sheet 19 with linear light sources 16 interposedtherebetween. This diffusion plate 17 has an incidence surface whichmakes direct light from linear light sources 16 and reflected light fromreflection sheet 19 incident to the inside thereof and an exit surfacewhich emits light diffused in the inside.

The above-described optical sheet 18 is disposed so as to be laminatedon the exit surface.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the main parts of the liquidcrystal display device. As illustrated in FIG. 10, in the presentembodiment, in panel driving circuit board 22 for electricallyconnecting liquid crystal display panel 3 to the circuit board of thesignal processing circuit block 8 disposed on the back side of backlightunit 4, panel driving circuit board 22 is electrically connected toliquid crystal display panel 3 via a flexible wire board 24. Inaddition, notches are provided at the side wall of back cabinet 7corresponding to connector 23 such that connectors 23 between flexiblewire board 24 and panel driving circuit board 22 are exposed to outsidefrom side wall 7 g of back cabinet 7.

With this configuration, liquid crystal display panel 3 can be easilyconnected to panel driving circuit board 22 when assembly is performed.

In addition, although, in the example illustrated in FIG. 10, onlyconnectors 23 between liquid crystal display panel 3 and panel drivingcircuit board 22 are configured to be exposed to the outside from sidewall 7 g of back cabinet 7, connection portions between the circuitboard of signal processing circuit block 8 and panel driving circuitboard 22 may be configured to be exposed to outside from side wall 7 gof back cabinet 7.

As such, in the present embodiment, in the liquid crystal display devicewhich includes the casing having back cabinet 7, liquid crystal displaypanel 3 and backlight unit 4 accommodated in the casing, and the circuitboard forming the driving circuit for displaying an image on liquidcrystal display panel 3, back cabinet 7 has space 7 a which canaccommodate backlight unit 4 and the circuit board, backlight supporters7 b and 7 c supporting backlight unit 4 are provided on the inner wallsurface forming space 7 a, liquid crystal display panel 3 is disposed inthe opening of space 7 a of back cabinet 7, and connectors 23 betweenliquid crystal display panel 3 and panel driving circuit board 22 areexposed to outside from side wall 7 g of back cabinet 7.

Thereby, backlight unit 4 and liquid crystal display panel 3 aresequentially incorporated into back cabinet 7 with respect to backcabinet 7, and thereby a finished product can be assembled. For thisreason, the display module including backlight unit 4 and liquid crystaldisplay panel 3 is assembled, and assembly is easier than in a casewhere a circuit board having liquid crystal display panel 3 and drivingcircuits of the backlight unit mounted thereon is installed and is thenaccommodated in the casing.

Further, connectors 23 between liquid crystal display panel 3 and paneldriving circuit board 22 are exposed to the outside from side wall 7 gof back cabinet 7, and thus liquid crystal display panel 3 can be easilyconnected to flexible wire board 24 when assembly is performed.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a back cabinetwhich is an outermost casing; a flat display panel installed in the backcabinet; a backlight unit disposed on a back side of the flat displaypanel; a signal processing circuit board that controls an image signaloutput to the flat display panel, the signal processing circuit boardbeing disposed on a backside of the backlight unit; and a panel drivingcircuit board electrically connecting the signal processing circuitboard to the flat display panel and controlling driving of the panel,wherein the back cabinet has a space which accommodates the backlightunit and the signal processing circuit board therein, and a backlightsupporter which supports the backlight unit on an inner wall surfaceforming the space, wherein the flat display panel is disposed in anopening of the space of the back cabinet, and a connector between theflat display panel and the panel driving circuit board is exposed tooutside from a side wall of the back cabinet when viewed from a side ofthe back cabinet, and wherein a connection portion between the signalprocessing circuit board and the panel driving circuit board is exposedto the outside from the side wall of the back cabinet when viewed fromthe side of the back cabinet.
 2. A method of assembling a displaydevice, the display device comprising: a back cabinet which is anoutermost casing; a flat display panel installed in the back cabinet; abacklight unit disposed on a back side of the flat display panel; asignal processing circuit board that controls an image signal output tothe flat display panel; and a panel driving circuit board electricallyconnecting the signal processing circuit board to the flat display paneland controlling driving of the panel, the back cabinet having a spacewhich accommodates the backlight unit and the signal processing circuitboard therein, and a backlight supporter which supports the backlightunit on an inner wall surface forming the space, and the flat displaypanel being disposed in an opening of the space of the back cabinet, anda connector between the flat display panel and the panel driving circuitboard being exposed to outside from a side wall of the back cabinet whenviewed from a side of the back cabinet, the method comprising steps of:assembling the backlight unit and the back cabinet; and then, assemblingthe flat display panel and the backlight unit and connecting the flatdisplay panel and the panel driving circuit board.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein: a connection portion between the signal processingcircuit board and the panel driving circuit board is exposed to theoutside from the side wall of the back cabinet when viewed from the sideof the back cabinet, and the step of assembling the flat display paneland the backlight unit further includes a step of connecting the signalprocessing circuit board and the panel driving circuit board.